North America hoping to enter race for Sam Maguire

NEW YORK might have to earn the right to face an Irish team in the Connacht SFC if the North American County Board are successful in their quest to field a team in the All-Ireland SFC.

After a series of successes at under-age level, the board, which represents the cities of Boston, San Francisco, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, are planning to apply to Croke Park to have a representative side accepted as the 34th team competing for the Sam Maguire Cup.

While the idea of two indigenous Connacht counties travelling to the US every May is likely to be cost prohibitive, it has been mooted New York and the North American County team might stage a preliminary round play-off to see who faces the visiting Irish team.